March 2013 Restaurant Openings and Closings

The term March Madness applied to the restaurant scene in Miami this past month. Several heavily anticipated venues by some heavy-hitters arrived:

Jeffrey Chodorow of China Grill Management opened Biscayne Tavern at the b2 hotel in downtown Miami. Though the restaurant is still in its soft-opening phase, there are more than two dozen beers to pair with the gastropub’s simple yet satisfying food.

Michael Schwartz’s Cypress Room opened in the Design District. In a departure from his two casual eateries, Schwartz has gone upscale with white-linen service, wine-pairing dinners, and classic cocktails.

50 Eggs’ Swine Southern Table & Bar brings Southern hospitality, communal dining, and a large bourbon selection to Coral Gables.

March also saw the closings of two Miami-area favorites. After seven years, neighborhood pub Clarke’s closed, and Clive’s Café shuttered after nearly four decades.

Hotly anticipated spring openings include Jamie DeRosa and Michael Reginbogin’s Tongue & Cheek and California transplant Umami Burger.

Openings

• Biscayne Tavern
• Cecci
• Charles St.
• The Cypress Room
• The Flat
• Kouzina
• Lucali
• Mercato
• My Ceviche
• Proper Sausages
• Sgt Pepper’s Cafe
• Sweet Saloon
• Swine Southern Table & Bar
• Ten Fruits
• Time For Wine

Closings

• Brooklyn Water Bagel Company
• Clarke’s
• Clive’s Cafe
• Tikl

Changes

• La Camaronera is now open for dinner Friday and Saturday evenings
• Blue Collar is open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays, with a late-night menu.

Coming Attractions

• Acropolis Greek Taverna – Bellydancing coming to the Grove.
• Aoki Teppanyaki – Coming to Dadeland.
• Aroma Espresso Bar – Coming to Dadeland.
• Balan’s – Opening another location in Dadeland.
• Barley & Swine – Opening in Dadeland.
• Barnickel’s – Coconut Grove eatery opening soon.
• Bar Lorenzo – Top Chef Tony Mantuano is opening an Italian restaurant soon.
• Barezzito – Late night sushi to open in SoBe.
• Batch – Gastropub coming to Brickell.
• Biscayne Tavern – opening at b2 Hotel in Miami.
• Bobby Flay’s Burger Palace – Coming to Dadeland.
• Bricktop’s – Chain restaurant coming to Coral Gables.
• Boxpark – The Hoxton’s sibling, coming spring 2013.
• Capriccio – On the river, coming soon.
• Charles St. – Opening soon.
• China Grill – Moving to Brickell.
• Cibo Wine Bar – The second location, coming soon.
• Cipriani – New York icon due at the Icon Brickell.
• Earl’s Kitchen & Bar – Coming to Dadeland.
• Gravity Brewbar – Opening in Wynwood.
• Harvey Wolf – Completes the trio of European pubs, along with Boxpark and The Hoxton.
• HuaHua’s – Todd Erickson’s Lincoln Road tacqueria to open early 2013.
• Ikea – Coming 2014
• Jefe’s Original Fish Taco & Burger – One of Miami’s first food trucks goes brick and mortar.
• La Cantina 20 – Another Icon tenant getting set to move in.
• Lure Fishbar – The New York seafood restaurant is coming to the Loews Miami Beach.
• Milk Burger – New York burger joint teasing us with hints of a Miami location.
• N Lounge – Kevin Cory to open a lounge next door to NAOE.
• Panther Coffee – Opening second location in SoBe.
• Perfecto Mediterranean Cafe – Opening in Brickell.
• Poor Man’s Lobster – From the folks at Mandolin.
• Restaurant du Cap – Philippe Ruiz’ much anticipated venue coming to Brickell.
• The Restaurant at The Raleigh – Michael Schwartz’ venture arriving winter 2013.
• Spaghetto – One just opened, several more in the works.
• SushiSamba – Opening second Miami-area location in Coral Gables.
• Sweetness Bake Shop – Another branch of the popular shop opening in Hialeah.
• Tongue & Cheek — Jamie DeRosa and Michael Reginbogin’s joint venture to open in the next few weeks.
• Trader Joe’s – Coming to Pinecrest in 2013.
• Umami Burger – The California craze is opening in Miami Beach.
• Urban Oxy – Coffee house with affordable bites.
• VooDoo BBQ and Grill – Bringing some mojo to Kendall.
• Wolfgang Steakhouse – Wolfgang Zwiener announces a Miami opening.
• Wynwood Brewing Company – Opening soon.
• Yard House – Chain grub with many many beers.

Projects in the Works
A fast-casual Asian concept by 50 Eggs is coming to South Beach, adjacent to the original Lime on Alton Road.

Giorgio Rapivicoli is planning a cocktail lounge adjacent to his Coral Gables restaurant, Eating House. He’s also working on a doughnut shop.

Follow Laine Doss on Twitter @LaineDoss and Facebook.

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